Motion picture apparatus



March 6, 1934.

E. A. HECKLER MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR W 4. 1:46

I BY QIQIM ATTORNEY March 6, 1934. A HECKLER 1,949,909

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ata/"644%,,

v I BY mam;

ATTORNEY March 6, 1934. HECKLER 1,949,909

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Fild June 10, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR BY ems, 09AM ATTORNEY Patented Mar 6, i934 UNITED FICE A. liiieciiier, Lansdaie,

Application June it,

9 Claims.

My invention relates to moving picture apparatus and it has for an object to provide an inter" mittent rotary electric motor to traverse the film, whereby this operation may be rendered very quiet.

Heretofore, where the camera and sound cording apparatus are operated by synchronous motors, it has been necessary to take special precautions to prevent camera operating noise from being imposed on the sound record. It is, therefore, common practice to have the camera placed in a sound-proof compartment to prevent the effect of its noise being transmitted to the SOL e recorder; however, this Way of avoiding the diniculty interferes with free movement of the camera and limits positioning thereof. If operation the camera could be made sufficiently quiet, then it would be unnecessary to use the enclosure and the camera could be more freely positioned. he

practically all of the noise emanates from the intermittent mechanism for traversing the idln avoid noise on this account by having the f traversed by an intermittent rotary electric inetor, which is inherently quiet, and make possible the satisfactory use of a camera without an enclosure when used in conjunction with sound recording apparatus. The intermittent electric rnctor is interconnected with the synchronous motors operating the camera shutter and the sound recording apparatus so as to effect movements of the film during periods of obscuration by the shutter. Hence, a further object of my invention is to provide a camera and sound recording apparatus wherein the film of the camera is trav ersed by an intermittent electric motor so that the camera may be made slmiciently quiet in operation to avoid the necessity for the use enclosure therefor.

A further objector my invention is to provide photographic apparatus having the i traversed by an intermittent rotary electric motor whicl is constructed and arranged to provide for deflate or predetermined movement cycles.

A more particular object of my invention is to provide a motor for traversing a photogra ic film and having the following advantageous i tures of construction and operation: first, nae-afor starting the rotor from rest at a predetermined point on the rotor when that point lies a plane of reference which includes the rotor second, to provide means by which rotor stopped at a second predetermined po t on rotor and removed from the first point a 1 tion of a revolution when the second point in the plane of reference; third, to pro finally providing or termination of the moveme vision for holding the rotor stationary at the second point until such time as additional motion is requir d; and, fourth, to make provision by which the above motions may be repeated, in the order named, indefinitely, and thus provide an electric motor which will deliver intermittent rotary motion suitable for moving the film during periods when light is obscured by the shutter.

A iurther object of invention is to provide an electric motor having an armature provided 5 with propelling and holding windings together with circumferentially spaced groups of cormnu tater segments providing for starting of the 1 tor, thereaite n reducing the torque due to the of arm reaction and to reduction cmrent supplied to the propelling winding,

cycle due to the street of the holding winding ne ing positioned to or pass the maximum flux wh relay the motor may have such defi lite intermittent movement as to traverse a film satis iacto y.

These and oth objects are effected by my in venticn es will apparent from the follow 1g "escription a" d claim taken in connection 1 drawings in which:

View of photographic Fig. i and sound reco" ap lied thereto;

Jigs. 3 and 3a are detail views of improved film t versing sprockets;

i is a c cular development of the tire winding of the intermittent rotary elect-ic as motor, with the eoznznutators and connections shown diagran z'iatica y;

Fig. 5 a diagrar atic circular developm of one holding circuit;

e a side e evation of the armature show ing th relation or the commutators to the la: ations;

1" is a View showing the and its position with respect to various us ca current when the armature is no the og sitio-n shown;

S is a nections betwee electric onrrenr E is a view similar to Fig. 4 but show 1g m the rote" adv nced the latter viewi invention, I provide by synchronous motors in a known manner, but wherein, instead of having the film traversed by intermittent rotary mechanical transmission mechanism, the film is traversed by an intermittent rotary electric motor, with the result that the photographic apparatus is rendered sufllciently quiet in operation to make unnecessary isolation of the latter in a sound-proof compartment to avoid marring of the sound record. The intermittent rotary, film-driving, electric motor is interconnected with the synchronous motors driving the photographic apparatus and the sound recorder so that film movements take place during periods of obscuration of the photographic apparatus. The organization will be first described followed by a description of the intermittent rotary electric motor.

Referring to Fig. 1, I show a camera A and a sound recorder B driven by synchronous motors C and D, respectively, interconnected in a well-known manner. The film of the camera is traversed step-by-step during periods of camera obscuration by the intermittent rotary electric motor E, the motor E being operated in properly timed relation to assure the accomplishment of this result.

The camera A is provided with a shutter 36, preferably of the rotary type, having openings 37 separated by light-obscuring portions 37a for passing and blocking light rays, as indicated at 38, to the interior of the camera. In addition to turning of the shutter 36, the synchronous motor C also simultaneously operates the distributors 33, the shutter 36 and the distributors 33 preferably being connected to the motor shaft 35, in such a manner as to cause the brushes 17 and 20 of the intermittent rotary electric motor E to act together while the brushes 19 and 18 of the latter are in open circuit and vice versa.

The intermittent rotary electric motor E has its shaft 41 connected to the film-driving sprocket 42. Not only is this means for imparting stepby-step movement to the film inherently quiet, but quietness is further promoted by having the sprocket made of some semi-hard material, such as rubber, that will operate quietly when meeting the film 43. The teeth of the film-driving sprocket 42, as well as of the film-propelled sprocket 55, engage in rows of openings disposed adjacent to the side edges of the film. Idlers 44, preferably also made of semi-hard material, are arranged at the opposite side of the film from the sprockets 42 and 55 and have openings to receive the sprocket teeth (see Fig. 3). The sprockets are arranged in the camera box 45 so as to locate the film 43 properly with respect to light rays entering through the lenses 46.

The sound-recording equipment B is driven by the synchronous motor D, the motor being connected by suitable gears 48 to the turntable 49 for turning the latter. A wax disc is placed on the turntable for sound recording in the usual way. It is to be understood that illustration and reference to disc sound recording are by way of example only and that the invention is applicable to any suitable mode of sound recording.

Armature current is supplied to both synchronous motors C and D from alternating current mains 50 connected to terminals 52 and field current is supplied from the direct current mains 51 connected to the motor terminals 53.

The camera shutter 36 is placed on the shaft of the synchronous motor C so that light rays may not enter the camera when the distributors 33 permit current to fiow through the pair of brushes 17 and 20 or the pair of brushes 19 and 18 of the motor E. This adjustment causes the motor E to move the film 43 only when light cannot enter the camera. The motor E and the sprocket 42 are constructed and arranged to cause the film to move just the required amount so that consecutive pictures may be photo graphed.

While the intermittent rotary electric motor E may be of the alternating or direct current type, in Fig. 1, I show one of the direct current type, the field being connected to the terminals 54, which are connected to the direct current mains 51, and the armature being supplied with direct current through the intermediary of the distributors 33 and of the pairs of brushes 1'? and 20 and 19 and 18.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive, in connection with the intermittent rotary electric motor E, in the particular embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration 1'. show an intermittent rotary electric motor of the two-pole type using direct current to excite the field and one having a lap armature winding, but, so far as the objects of my invention are concerned, it is not essential that the machine have only a single pair of poles, or use direct current, for the same principles are applicable to motors having two or more sets of poles or which use alternating current. The principles are also applicable when the armature is made the stator and the field is made the rotor as well as when other types of armature windings are used.

In Figs. 4 and 9, 1, 2, and 3 represent predetermined points on the armature at which it is proposed to cause the armature to start from rest, or come to rest, whenany of these points lie in the plane of reference indicated at 4, which includes the longitudinal center line of the pole pieces 4a and 4b.

The armature is provided with circumferentially spaced groups of commutator segments cooperating with the pairs of brushes 1'7, 20 and 19, 18 so as to secure intermittent movement cycles, the arrangement being such that, with completion of a movement cycle incident to one pair of brushes traversing a pair of segment groups, the other pair of brushes will be placed in initial position with respect to the pair of succeeding groups of segments, and, when current is supplied to the latter pair of brushes, the next movement cycle will take place. Distributors are provided, as elsewhere herein more particularly described, for supplying current alternately to the pairs of brushes.

The commutator segments 5, 6 and 7, of low re sistance and separated from each other by a suitable dielectric, are grouped to transmit current during one cycle of motion; during the next movement cycle, the groups of commutator segments 8, 9, and 10 are effective; and the following cycle is taken care of by the groups of commutator segments 11, 12, and 13. After completion of the movement cycle, with the segment groups 11, 12, and 13 effective, the segments 5, 6, and 7 are positioned for the next cycle and so on. Each group of commutator segments is separated from the following group by a segment of dielectric 14. For purposes which will later appear, the segments of the groups may be of unequal length of arc, and they are insulated from and fastened to the armature shaft by any of the usual means.

I prefer to use two like commutators, l5 and 16, which, when placed on the same central axis,

necaooe have like segments on either commutator 160 cir cular degrees apart. The commutators are preferably placed at either end of the armature.

Each commutator has two brushes sliding thereon. Brushes 1'2 and 18 slide on the commutator l5 and brushes 19 and 20 slide on the coniinutator 16. The brushes are of such resistance as is consistent with good commutation.

The brushes 1'? and 19 are alternately connected to the source of electric current so as to transmit current into the commutators l5 and 16, and the brushes 1% and 20 are alternately connected so as to transmit current away from the commutators. Bushes 17 and 20 act in unison to pass current through the armature, while the brushes 19 and 18 are in an open circuit, and vice versa, as will be explained later.

In the drawings, 21 represents the face. of an armature post. Between adjacent posts, a space or slot 22 is provided sufiicient in size to pass the required amount of conductors. Each conductor may be made up of one or more wires. Those concluctors which are a part of the main winding and which act to propel the armature, and herein termed the propelling winding, are indicated by the numeral 23, with subscripts a, b, c and d to point out irregularities in the action or certain of these conductors. The conductors 23 are connected with the first and second segments 5 and 6 of the groups 5, 6, and I, with the first and second segments 8 and 9 of the groups 8, 9, and 10, and with the first and second segments 11 and 12 of the groups 11, 12, and 13 on the commutators, but the conductors are only supplied with current through those segments which are under the influence of that set of brushes in series with the source of current. Leads 2% connect conductors 23 with the first and second segments of the groups on the commutator 15, while leads 25 connect such conductors with corresponding segments on the commutator 16.

in addition to the propelling winding consisting of the conductors 23, the arr nature is provided with as many separate holding windings or circuits as there are movement cycles per revolution of the armature. The reference characters 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d represent those conductors which are a part of one holding winding or circuit connected with the source of current through the commutator segments 7. The segments 10 and 13 are connected to holding windings 2"! and 28, respectively. Only one of the holding windings or circuits is active during one cycle of motion.

In Fig. '7, the direction of current is indicated by a cross when it enters the paper and by a dot when it leaves the paper through conductors shown perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

The armature may be of a usual design except that for this particular motor it should contain any even number of posts or slots divisible by three. This is not essential to the application or the principles here exemplified, but is necessary to put the machine in mechanical and magnetic balance and to make the amounts of motion delivered equal.

The reference character 29 represents the neu tral plane of the armature, above which all conductors 23 carry current in one direction and be low which all conductors 23 carry current in the opposite direction.

The length of arc of the faces of the north and south poles la and as are represented by 30 and 31.

vino-n referring to torque in the tollowing de scription, I shall use the words plus torque to indicate torque in the counter-clockwise direction and the words minus torque to indicate torque in the clockwise direction.

Referring to Fig. 4, in which the predetermined point 1 lies in the plane of reference 4, if current is passed from brush 1'? through segments 5 and 6 on commutator 15, into the winding through leads 24, and out through leads 25 and corresponding segments on the commutator l6, and finally through the brush 20, all conductors 23 above the neutral plane carry current toward the commutator 16 and all conductors 23 below the neutral plane carry current toward the commutator 15. Also, if the poles are excited in such a manner that flux flows from the pole face 30 to the pole face 31, each conductor will have exerted thereon a force acting in such a direction as to create a plus torque. Responding to this torque, the armature moves in a counter-clockwise direction.

Before proceeding further with armature rotation, attention is directed to the distorted field which is set up by armature reaction, the combinecl field which results from that set up by the poles and that set up by the armature being crowded into the leading pole tips, as shown in Fig. 7. Field distortion cooperates with the armature conductors to assist in torque reduction incident to termination of a movement cycle.

During the rotation of the armature, it will be readily seen that conductors 23 receive cur-- rent and deliver torque as long as brushes 1'? and 20 remain in contact with segments 6 and that conductors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d will receive current and deliver torque as soon as the segments 6 and 7, decreasing the current in segments 6 and conductors 23 and increasing the current in the segments l and the conductors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d, as the armature proceeds in the counter clockwise direction. The effect of this action is two-fold, in that the plus torque created by tl conductors 23 is uniformly decreased from a in imum value to zero, while the current is uniformly increased from zero to a maximum in the corn ductors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d. Also, as segments 6 move from under brushes 17 and 26, the neutral plane 29 of the armature rotates from its original position in Fig. 4 through the position shown in Fig. 7 until such time as the segments 6 leave the brushes 1'? and 20. This action causes conductors 23a and 231), Fig. l, to enter the distorted held at a point of maximum density; and, because the direction of the field with respect to these conductors has been changed while the current still flows in the original direction, the torque exercised by these conductors is minus. By the same action, conductors 23c and 23d are taken out of tle field and hence develop no torque. Therefore, because the conductors 23c and 2363 are removed fro. l the field and because conductors 23c and 23?) cause a minus torque to exist coupled with uniform decrease in current in all. the conductors 23 as segments 6 leave the brushes 17 and 20, the plus torque is rapidly reduced from a maximum value to zero.

In Figs. 4 and 5, it will be found that conduc tors 26c and 260 are connected so as to carry current toward commutator l5 and conductors 26b and 26d so as to carry current toward the commutator 16. Hence, as segments 7 come into contact with the brushes current, con

ductors 26b and 260 exert a plus torque while conductors 26a and 26d exert a minus torque, but because conductors 26a and 26d are operating in a more dense field than conductors 26b and 26c, Fig. 7, the net torque is minus and the effect is to brake the counter-clockwise rotation of the armature. It will now be seen that, by varying the length of arc of the segments 6 and 7, the conductors 23 and 26a, 26b, 26c, and 2601 may be continued in operation for a greater or lesser period of armature rotation.

At the instant when segments 6 leave the brushes 1'7 and 20, the conductors 23 cease to act and armature reaction consequently ceases, at which time the field through the armature assumes its normal straight path. Conductors 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d are then moving in a normal field, 26a and 26b under the influence of the pole face and 260 and 26d under the influence of the pole face 31. Moreover, conductors 26a and 2612 act together as a coil, as do conductors 26c and 26d, and thus will continue to move in the normal field until such time as they include the maximum amount of field fiux, at which time they will stop and remain stationary as long as current is supplied to the holding circuit through segments 7, Fig. 9. Therefore, by making the pole faces 30 and 31 to conform to such dimensions so that the field flux may just be included between conductors 26a and 26b and between conductors 26c and 26d, a means is provided for bringing the armature to rest.

By placing the centerline between conductors 26a and 26b, as well as that between the conductors 26c and 26d, in the plane 32, Figs. 5 and 7, which includes the predetermined point 2 and the axis of the armature, an accurate means is provided for bringing the armature to rest when the predetermined point 2 lies in the plane of reference.

As will be apparent from Fig. 9, when the point 2 nears its position of rest in the plane of reference, commutator segments 8 and 9 contact brushes 19 and 18. By means which will be presently explained, brushes 1'] and 20 are cut out of circuit and brushes l9 and 18 are cut in at the instant when further motion of the armature is required. The current now enters the conductors 23 through segments 8 and 9 on commutator 16 and leaves by way of the corresponding segments on the commutator 15. Hence, by a proper selection of leads to either commutator,

I repeat all of the electrical conditions that obtained within the armature when it first started to move, and the functions that were performed by conductors 23 above and below the neutral plane are again performed by those conductors which now lie above and below that plane. The functions performed by the conductors 26 and the segments '1 are now repeated by the conductors 27 and the segments 10. Likewise, if the various commutator segments with their respective leads are grouped as described and placed around the commutator in sequence at equal intervals, separated from each other by segments of dielectric 14, a means is provided for securing equal fractional turns of the armature for each revolution thereof.

The pairs of brushes 1'7 and 20 and 19 and 18 are rendered alternately effective and the frequency of the motor is controlled by any suitable means. For example, Fig. 8 shows a convenient means for accomplishing these results. Brushes 19 and 18 are shown cut out of the circuit while brushes 17 and 20 are in series with the source of current through the distributors 33 whose rotors 34 are rigidly connected by the shaft 35. When the shaft 35 is rotated through 180 circular degrees, either manually or otherwise, the rotors 34 then connectthe brushes 19 and 18 in series with the source of current while the brushes 17 and 20 are cut out. This action may continue indefinitely and the frequency with which the motor described .moves is thereby governed.

From the structure described, it will be apparent that the armature has successive cycles of movement each circular degrees in extent. Assuming that the armature starts from the position shown in Fig. 4, in which the point 1 is in the plane of reference 4, then the first cycle of counter-clockwise movement brings the. point 2 into the plane of reference, as shown in Fig. 9; the second cycle brings the point 3 into the plane; the third cycle brings the point 1 into the plane 180 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 1; the fourth cycle brings the point 2 into the plane at the top of Figs. 4 and 9; the fifth cycle brings the point 3 into the plane'at the bottom; and the sixth cycle brings the point 1 into the plane at the top, which is the starting position, as shown in Fig. 4.

With the structure heretofore described, the armature is always stopped so that a pair of brushes engage both the first and second segments, or the propelling winding segments, of diametrically opposed segment groups; and, when such brushes are placed in circuit, the motor starts in the usual way, the coils undergoing commutation being short circuited through the brushes, since the latter are each engaging two segments. Just as soon as current is supplied from the brushes to the propelling winding, the field suffers distortion, as shown in Fig. 7, this distortion continuing as long as current flows in the propelling winding. As soon as the brushes leave the first segments, the commutating action ceases for the remainder of the movement cycle; and, as soon as the center lines of the brushes move past the center lines of the second segments, the neutral plane moves from its normal position and in the direction of rotation with the effect of torque reduction due to minus torque in some conductors, zero torque in other conductors, reduced current flowing in the propelling winding because of diminishing contact area of the brushes with the second segments, and the minus torque condition occurring with the effective holding winding as long as current is supplied to the propelling winding.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the principles of my intermittent rotary motor may be variously applied: any suitable number of pairs of poles may be employed; the segment group arcs may be made longer or shorter; any suitable number of propelling winding segments may be incorporated in the groups; and the segments may be variously proportioned. Any suitable brush width may be employed so long as the arc of contact thereof does not exceed the arcuate length of the dielectric segments 14. With a two-pole machine, as heretofore set forth, to secure magnetic and running balance, the rule is that any even number of armature posts or slots may be employed so long as the number is divisible by three.

For a four-pole machine, the rule for magnetic and running balance is any even number of posts or slots divisible by four. With a fourpole machine, only two holding circuits are needence difficulty,

till

ed regardless of whether two or four ores cnts, brushes coopera g mined points are provided for. It the arrar 5-69115 and positioi c ment is for four predetermined points, the th h. :1 one group by one brushes acting together slide on the same cornanother oi-u lac d in initial position relc c, 1:; to another group; and a distributor drive the 1 i inutator, whether the machine be of the twopole or of the tour-pole type. T ee predetermined points cannot be arranged ror a four-pole machine, but can be used with, a two=po1e 1nachine, as heretofore described, or with a six-pole machine, in which case the brushes acting in l. In. motion picture apparatus, a pl unison do not slide on the same commutator, a hie devic in mg a shutter and a film but on opposite commutators, as shown on the ecord rconnected synclii drawings. the shutter an Where the motor is provided with a ground r'nittent return, the return lorush may be omitted and e him and in QC single commutator is, therefore, sufficient. d with field While I have shown and described a i otcr ng and holding W it of the intermittent rotary uni-directional eans providing it will be apparent that the principl s of the ion of the prone invention may be employed in a motor ca irog means o1 of operating in either direction. For eiia' lcontroliing' wi h a two-pole machine of the type particul means to secure described, there would be two coininutators 1 ds shutter ooscura each direction, or a total of four. Also, the arr aratus, a photogra' c and a film; a

ture would preferably have a propelling Winding for each direction of rotation to avoid inter" particularly with the holding synchronote u c1 and the sound w record devi tors for drivi circuits. device; tary electric From the foregoing, it will be t i for traversing the and including have devised a novel motion picture erg c and a rotor having d armature elem tion which is advantageous in that the c commutator circumi rei M segments, i

pair oibros ment groups -lersing the nli aced groups 0 (lol'illlltlbwbol ating with tl alternately to en need not be located in a sound-proof con"; merit to avoid imposing camera noise on a so .id record, this being made possible by the n el means, the intermittent rotary elect c mot for traversing the film, such means he ently quiet. My invention is also useful ersing the filth in a projector, and, acco di the term photographic device, as use claims, is intended in a generic either a camera or a projector.

While 2 have shown my inventio' will be obvious to those so it form, it

that is not so limited, but i pnlri d crush ir a therefore, that only such lin placed thereupon as are imposed by th or as are specifically set forth in c- What claim is: 1. In motion picture apparatus, a

ccrnniutat eluding nients connec windings, wit

move: holding eans record device, means for effecting synchro operation of the shutter and of the son under control of said means for traversing film during shutter obscuration periods.

device including a shutter and record device, interconnected sync tric motors for driving the shutter and a record device, an intermittent rotary electric motor for traversing the dim, and operated by the shutter synchronous securing operation of the film inc geriods of shutt obscuration.

3. in motion picture apparatus, a photogra' device including a shutter and a film; a so lid record device; interconnected synchronous elec tric motors for driving the shutter and the sound record device; an intermittent rotary electric motor for traversing the film and including a stator and a rotor provided with field and arrnature elements, commutator means tor the ar ture including a plurality of circumferential i d segment actor includiz" v F commute or ative movement of the field and armature elements to control the supply of electric current to the armature element to secure starting and stopping of the intermittent rotary electric motor; and means operated by the shutter motor to control the passage of electric current to the armature of the intermittent rotary electric motor to secure movement cycles of the latter during periods of shutter obscuration.

ERNEST A. HECKLER. 

